When Ricky White III was taken by the Seattle Seahawks in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft, the hope was that he would potentially become impactful on special teams. He didn't seem set to be productive as a receiver. The problem is that so far, he hasn't done the former, but has confirmed the latter.
Among the many issues the Seattle backups had against the Dallas Cowboys in preseason Week 1, White was invisible on special teams, the only unit that was any good for the Seahawks, and he only caught one pass for four yards. The major issue is that even against Dallas' backups, White failed.
The wide receiver has no path to making the roster other than his special teams acumen, and he did block a slew of punts in college, but that is such a niche route to carve out. One would have to be really unique, and White hasn't done that.
Ricky White III's days might be numbered with the Seattle Seahawks
To be fair to him, he was always a risk, and taking a gamble on a seventh-rounder is a smart move. Not much is lost if the player doesn't make the team. One would have hoped that in his second season, and in a game that features a bunch of backups, White would show he can be a decent option as a wideout, but he couldn't.
Other Seattle Seahawks did stand out in the third phase of the game against Dallas. Brady Russell had a punishing hit of a ball-carrier, for instance. Rashad Rochelle, an undrafted free agent this year, had a punt return for 52 yards. He is clearly liked by his teammates because at the end of the return, the sideline reacted as if Rochelle had just made a game-winning catch.
White would need to make the team as a receiver, but Seattle might only keep six wideouts. Two of them, Jake Bobo and Cody White, are more helpful on special teams. This further narrows Ricky White III's path to keep a spot on the active 53-man roster.
The positive is that releasing White, which seems inevitable, doesn't mean he won't keep getting paid by the Seahawks. He could land on the practice squad. He could be elevated on game days if enough injuries occur and the team has a need as a gunner on punts and kicks.
After all, that was why he was drafted in the first place. Maybe more likely, White is looking for new employment on August 30 when final roster cuts need to be made.
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